The Chair suspended Standing Orders to allow Dr Patrick Candler to give a short presentation on the new Sherwood Forest Visitor Centre. Copies are available from the Parish Council office on request.

Dr Patrick Candler opened the floor for questions.

Q It is vital that disruption for residents should be kept to a minimum therefore, how will traffic be managed?
A A traffic impact assessment will be carried out. Planning for the new Centre will be managed by N&SDC and NCC will have an input concerning Highways issues.

Q Why is the lease for 60 years?
A To give investors security.

Q What will happen to the existing staff?
A The Rangers will continue to be employed by NCC but all other staff will transfer to the new company.

Q Where will the car park be situated?
A The outline plans show the main car park will be in the current overflow car park (whole of the flat field). Car parking will be free. The Cemetery Car Park, Fun Park, Cricket Pitch and Craft Centre will all remain.

Q What is the entry cost?
A The headline cost is £17.50 which is comparable to other similar attractions; there will however be discounts/incentives for the community.

Q Where will the tree top walk/bridge be sited?
ANOTHING has been finalised yet, no plans have been received. The picture currently being circulated through the press is only an artist impression.

Discover Robin Hood are very keen to build links with Edwinstowe Business Forum and the local Community. The Parish Council will be the liaison point for information. Any queries contact Alice.

Representatives from Discover Robin Hood will be attending the Christmas Light Switch On Event to listen to views from the local community.

Cllr J Peck and Brooks are Edwinstowe's District Councillors and will be the link with the District Council Planning Department. Cllr J Peck is also the County Councillor for Edwinstowe.

The new Visitor Centre is a very exciting project which will bring real economic benefit to local businesses and extra jobs to the area. However consideration will need to be given traffic management including improvements to the top of Swinecote Road and Ollerton roundabout.

1940hrs Standing Orders reinstated

12/093 RECEIVE ANY APOLOGIES AND REASONS FOR ABSENCE

None.

12/094 DISCLOSURES OF INTERESTS BY MEMBERS (AND EMPLOYEES) IN ITEMS ON THE AGENDA

The Department of Communities and Local Government has expressed the informal view that members of a Parish Council do not have a disclosable interest (DPI) in the precept. However, NALC (National Association of Local Councils) advises
that because it is now a criminal offence to participate and vote on a matter in which he or she has a DPI, the safest course of action is to obtain a dispensation. Clerk to organise dispensation.

All Councillors declared an interest in item 12/103(ii)

12/095 TO APPROVE THE MINUTES OF THE ORDINARY MEETING OF THE COUNCIL HELD
ON 9th October 2012

Minutes were approved and signed.

12/096 MATTERS ARISING FROM LAST MEETING

The Chair has submitted the entry forms for this year's Citizen of the Year nomination - Mr Frettsome. Mrs Frettsome requested she was not nominated and Mr Frettsome was nominated instead because of the work they both do for the community.

12/097 TO RECEIVE QUESTIONS AND PETITIONS FROM MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC (20 MINUTES)

Commenced 1945hrs

A resident reported the pavement outside the Co-op is uneven. This has previously been reported but will be followed up. Clerk to action.

Finished 1946hrs

12/098 TO RECEIVE QUESTIONS FROM COUNCILLORS (20 MINUTES)

Commenced 1946hrs

Cllr Cocking reported that next year the government is stopping the ability for communities to nominate areas to be given Village Green status which prevents development. Cllr Cocking requested that the Clerk investigate whether Edwinstowe Cricket Pitch and the Fun Park Field qualify for Village Green status. Clerk to investigate.

Cllr Cocking reported that an accident had occurred at the bottom of East Lane which had resulted in East Lane being blocked off at both ends for some considerable time. This adds more weight to getting the one way section in place.

Cllr Ayre has received numerous complaints concerning the decision to withdraw funding to the community bus especially as the company had not informed residents that used the service. Cllr Ayre is trying to arrange a meeting with a company about the possibility of using volunteer drivers instead.

Finished 1950hrs

12/099 TO RECEIVE AND CONSIDER REPORTS AND MINUTES OF ANY COMMITTEE, WORKING GROUP OR SUB-COMMITTEE

Feedback Edwinstowe Business Forum
Cllrs J & K Peck did not attend the last meeting as they were on holiday. The next meeting will be a networking evening at Hair and Beauty.

Feedback Safer Neighbourhood Group
The next meeting will be on 20th November at Abbey Road Community Centre at 6.30pm.

Feedback Events Working Group
The majority of the 30 stalls have now been booked, and we have 5 live singers covering the event.

This year there will be a new layout with Santa’s Grotto at the top of the High Street, live music outside the Royal Oak all the way down to the fairground rides and fire engine at the bottom of the High Street.

12/100 AGENDA

Neighbourhood planning consultation
Copies to all Councillors with minutes - the closing date for comments is 7th December so any feedback to Clerk asap

Point 1.2 in the consultation document states.
"This means that Parish and Town Councils will have the power to produce Neighbourhood Plans or Special Orders which sets out types of development they would want to allow without requiring Planning Permission. In areas which don't have a Parish Council, communities must set up special neighbourhood groups to carry out this work."

The idea is to give final planning decisions to Parish level. District Council Planning Officers are well trained and have the knowledge to make considered decisions about planning applications.

Snow clearing equipment
We have a limited supply of grit this year. Does the Parish Council want to purchase any spreading equipment? It was agreed to wait until the Clerk had spoken to David for his opinion.

The Chair read the following excerpts from guidance received from Nottinghamshire County Council.

"There's no reason why people shouldn't clear residential streets and pavements if they are able."

"A belief has grown up over the past few years that you shouldn't clear snow from roads and footways yourself in case you get sued."

"In truth, there is no law stopping you from clearing snow and ice on the footway outside your home or from public spaces provided you take sensible precautions."

12/101 Correspondence(COPIES ARE AVAILABLE TO VIEW IN COUNCIL CHAMBERS)

NAME

DESCRIPTION

COMMENTS

Notts County Council

New customer service number - 0300 500 8080

Noted and new posters put in noticeboards

Notts County Council

Local improvement scheme bid

Noted

M Jones (Resident)

Complaint re fireworks

The Parish Council has no powers with regard to fireworks however, if there was a village display it might deter residents to hold their own. Maybe Discover Robin Hood, the new Visitor Centre might hold an annual event. Agenda item February.

12/102 ANY APPOINTMENTS TO COMMITTEES, WORKING GROUPS OR SUB-COMMITTEES OR OTHER BODIES

None.

12/103 FINANCIAL MATTERS (TO BE REFERRED TO THE FINANCE COMMITTEE, if necessary)

Cemetery Fees
There has been no increase in the Forest Cemetery fees for at least 13 years and Edwinstowe is considerably cheaper than other parishes.

The proposal would be to sell all plots as doubles with only a slight increase for residents and a more substantial rise for non-residents. Copies of all documentation provided for decision/discussion are available from the Parish Council Office by arrangement.

Cllr J Peck was shocked to see that Council Tax Payers are subsidising the cemetery fees by 5% of the precept.

Some councillors would like to see a higher rise for non-residents.

Vote - 8 in favour of current proposal, 2 against and 1 abstention.

Approval of 2013/14 precept
The Finance Committee met recently to discuss next year's precept. NCC and N&SDC receive grants from the Government to allow a 0% increase; Parish Councils do not receive such grants.

The following was proposed and agreed unanimously:

The Precept for 2013/14 will be £113,714

This is an increase of £1,126 from 2012/13 to cover increased costs

This is a 1% increase on the precept for 2012/13 and is therefore below the current rate of inflation (2.7%)

WHAT DOES THAT MEAN TO YOU?

This means an increase of about 50p per year for each property in Edwinstowe or less than a penny a week.

The Parish Council continues to work hard to give very good value, providing amenities and taking care of the village.

12/104 CHEQUES/INVOICES FOR APPROVAL

DATE

PAYEE

DESCRIPTION

AMOUNT inc VAT

09.10.12

Viking

Stationery

£43.81

16.10.12

Town & Country

Village Cut

£1,342.80

17.10.12

Cash

Petty Cash

£85.98

25.10.12

pHs Group

Mansfield Road Toilets

£535.32

25.10.12

County Supplies

Stationery

£45.42

25.10.12

Oak Industrial Supplies

Equipment

£178.63

05.11.12

Cash

Petty Cash

£166.16

02.11.12

NeedInput

Newsletter Print

£1,900.00

15.10.12

B&Q

Equipment (incl Shed Roof Repairs)

£197.38

Cheques approved and signed by Chairman.

12/105 GRANT APPLICATIONS

None.

12/106 PLANNING MATTERS November 2012

None.

12/107 REPORTS FROM COUNTY AND DISTRICT COUNCILLORS (VERBAL REPORT AT MEETING; COPY OF REPORT TO CLERK)

District Councillors Report - November 2012.

Both District Councillors continue to work on individual case work.

Cllr Brooks has, over the last few weeks worked on a Food Safety Commissioning Group at N&SDC as well as on the other Committees, Services, General Purposes and Licensing.

The Services Committee are looking at the introduction of 'brown bins' for garden waste into our area. We are keen to encourage these for those people who would wish to have one. There is an annual charge for the services but this would be kept as low as possible.

Cllr Peck continues to work on the Planning and Policy Overview Committees. He is also working alongside Newark & Sherwood Homes in support of local tenants. There are very few planning issues for the village at the moment. The Government Inspector has yet to report on the Local Development Framework and plans for the new visitor attraction have not been submitted to date. We should, of course, be pressing that local considerations such as privacy and traffic are fully considered once plans are submitted.

Cllr Brooks has received very positive feedback from the latest edition of the newsletter.

County Councillors Report - November 2012.

C/Cllr Peck has attended several meetings concerning the New Visitor Centre and Sherwood Forest Regional Park. He is also a member of the Tourism Working Party and is constantly promoting Edwinstowe as the Gateway to Sherwood Forest. Looking longer term there is the potential of bringing the Robin Hood Line into the village.

Initially, recent maintenance works on Mansfield Road caused major traffic congestion however; C/Cllr Peck contacted Highways Department and asked them not to start work until 9.30am (as stated) and also to ensure the temporary traffic lights were synchronised properly.

At a recent meeting C/Cllr Peck suggested that the Welfare could be used for Youth Provision. This was turned down due to financial implications. However, NCC will be sending a larger Youth Bus to the Village instead of the current minibus.

The Parish Council formally requested that Cllr Peck use some of his divisional fund for trees on Ollerton Road. Cllr K Peck proposed, Cllr Cocking seconded - agreed unanimously

At a recent meeting, Cllr Peck spoke against NCC spending £900k on an electronic scoreboard at Nottinghamshire Cricket Club. He considered it a waste of money especially when services are being cut and people are losing their jobs.

Over the last two years during periods of snow, Henton Road has never been gritted even though it is a bus route. C/Cllr Peck has formally requested that it be added to the gritting schedule.